Dishwashing apparatus



Oct. 30, y lDLE DISK- WASHING APPARATUS Filed April 17, 1950 INVENTORWITNESSES:

JAMES G. |D LE ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 30, 1951 DISHWASHING APPARATUSJames Gale Idle, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse ElectricCorporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication April 17, 1950, Serial No. 156,321 Claims. (Cl. l3721) Myinvention relates to apparatus for supplying water under pressure from amain to a vat. such as the tub of a dishwasher, and,has for an object toprovide improved apparatus of this kind.

As is well understood, the plumbing codes of many municipalities requirethe provision of a vacuum breaker in the conduit supplying water fromthe city water mains to an appliance in which contaminated water maycollect. The purpose of this requirement is, of course, to prevent thereverse flow of contaminated water to the mains in the event that asub-atmospheric pressure is produced in the mains. Many of these codesrequire that the bottom of the vacuum breaker which is employed must beinstalled at least six inches above the overflow rim of the fixturewhich it serves. This six-inch requirement in the specification is asafety factor to allow water to drain from the vacuum breaker and toprevent vacuum conditions in the water supply line from sucking anywaste water from the fixture to the breaker.

This requirement, in the case of a dishwasher installed beneath the worksurface of a kitchen sink, necesitates the installation of the breakerabove such work surface because the top of the dishwasher vat is usuallyconsidered as the point of overflow even though an overflow outlet maybe located in the vat at a lower elevation. For reasons such asmanufacturing and installation costs, convenience and appearance in thehome, it is advantageous to install the vacuum breaker below the worksurface of the sink.

In accordance with the present invention, improved means is provided forsupplying water to a dishwashing machine vat, including a vacuum breakerwhich may be installed, at least in part, below the top of the vat orbelow a sink work surface from which the vat depends. As set forthhereinafter, the water after flowing through the vacuum breaker employedpasses downwardly and upwardly through a U-shape conduit to the inletopening of the vat. A restricted opening in the bottom of said conduitdischarges a portion of the water across an air gap to a funnel whichdrains to a lower region of the vat. The majority of the water conveyedthrough the conduit flows under line pressure to the primary inlet ofthe vat so that it may be sprayed throughout the washing chamber withinthe vat.

In the event that a sub-atmospheric pressure obtains in the system setforth above, the vacuum breaker elevated above the bottom of the U-shaped conduit, in conjunction with the orifice at the bottom of thelatter, would prevent contaminated water splashed from the vat into theinlet opening thereof from entering the vacuum breaker; Any waterentering the inlet openingof the vat in this manner would pass down theU-shape conduit, through the orifice and funnel and return to the vat.The air gap intervening between the funnel and said conduit wouldprevent water from rising in the vat, because of some abnormalcondition, to the primary inlet of the vat to which the U-shape conduitis connected.

Accordingly, it is a further object of my invention to provide improvedwater supply apparatus for a vat installed beneath the work surface of aconventional sink, wherein all portions of said apparatus are disposedbelow the work surface. The foregoing and other objects are effected bythe invention as will be apparent from the following description andclaims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this application, in which the single figure of the drawingshows a water supply system for a dishwasher vat and constructed andarranged in accordance with my invention.

Reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein I have elected to showmy invention applied for the delivery of water under pressure to a vatstructure, generally indicated at I0, such as, for example, the vat of aconventional open top dishwasher. The vat l0 includes a side Wall H, theupper end of which is provided with a flange l2 supported by a resilientgasket I3. The latter is carried by a collar l4 which is supported by akitchen sink, the work board of which is indicated at l5. Water issupplied from a suitable source under pressure to the dishwasherstructure by means of a conduit 16 having a control valve CV connectedtherein which may be of any suitable construction. As is wellunderstood, the conduit [6 is connected to a water heater (not shown)which is supplied with water under pressure from city water mains. Theconduit It delivers water to a conventional vacuum breaker, generallyindicated at I1 and which may be of any well-understood construction.

The vacuum breaker which I have elected to show includes a casing I8,the water inlet and outlet ports being indicated at l9 and 2|,respectively. The upper end of the casing is provided with a vent 22communicating with the ambient atmosphere, which vent 22 is formed in asuitable valve seat 23. A valve 24 is arranged within the casing l8 forupward and downward movement therein, which valve is actuated inaccordance with the pressure obtaining in the inlet port I9. The valvemember 24 is spaced from the interior of the casing I8 to provide an airpassage 25 and the valve member 24 is positioned within the casing I! byradially extending fins 26 which engage the casing l8. A tube 21 carriedby the casing l8 positions the valve 24 in its open position, as shown,and forms a substantially fluid-tight connection with the valve, asindicated at 28. As will be understood, the position of the valve 24 asshown in the drawing is the position assumed when the water pressurewithin the casing I0 is below a predetermined value or when asubatmospheric pressure obtains within the casing it. Under thesecircumstances, the outlet port 2| communicates with the ambientatmosphere through the passages 25 and the vent 22. When the controlvalve CV is open, the increase in aavaoas pressure within the casing 18and tube 2'! rapidly engages the valve member 24 and the seat 23 forclosing the vent 22. It will be understood that any suitable form ofvacuum breaker I! may be employed in accordance with my invention andthe particular breaker which I have disclosed is one of several nowavailable in the market.

In accordance with my invention, the discharge port 2| of the vacuumbreaker ll connects by means of a U-shape conduit 3| with a. water inletfitting 32 carried by the side wall H of the vat. In the case of adishwasher, the water inlet fitting 32 defines a. nozzle for directingsprays of water at high velocity within the vat 10. As shown, theU-shape conduit extends downwardly from the vacuum breaker l1 and theinlet fitting 32 and is provided at its lowermost point with arestricted orifice, indicated at 33. The latter is spaced above a funnelstructure 34 to define an air gap, indicated at 35, across which a smallportion of the water conveyed by the U-shape conduit 3| is discharged.The funnel 34 is provided with a drain conduit 36 which communicateswith the lower portion of the vat ID for the drainage of water from thefunnel 34 to the vat l0.

The funnel 34 is arranged at an elevation on the vat wall ll above thenormal level of water contained in the vat I and overfilling of the vatI0 is precluded as the rim of the funnel 34 defines an overflow. Ifduring periods of operation of the dishwasher, some contaminated wateris driven through the nozzle fitting 32 into the U-shape tube 3|, itwill drain through the orifice 33 and funnel 34 and return to the vatID. This contaminated water cannot find its way to the water vacuumbreaker I! or the supply conduit l6 even though a sub-atmosphericpressure should prevail in the conduit l6 because at this time thebreaker and U-shape tube 31 are vented to atmosphere. Furthermore, eventhough the valve 24 of the breaker H remained closed for some reason, nowater will pass from the U- shape tube 3| to the breaker l8 as air willenter the orifice 33 and pass to the breaker I].

As set forth heretofore, many plumbing codes require that a vacuumbreaker, when connected to a fitting in which contaminated water may bestored, must be installed at least six inches above the overflow rim ofthe fitting in order that no contaminated water be drawn into thebreaker or the water pipe serving the breaker. This requirement is ahardship in many cases, for example, in dishwasher sink combinationsbecause the breaker in such installations would have to be locatedsomewhere above the work surface of the sink. This requirement not onlyincreases the cost of the installation but would be unsightly. In orderto conceal the breaker and piping, further expense would be necessary.

The water supply system which I have provided should comply with allrequirements of the code, as the breaker even though located beneath thesink and the top rim of the vat I0 is elevated with respect to theoverflow rim of the funnel 34 the required amount. Furthermore, byproviding a vented U-tube between the breaker and the vat, nocontaminated water splashed through the primary inlet or nozzle 32 ofthe vat can flow to the breaker under any circumstances. While I haveshown my invention inbut one form, it will be obvious to those skilledin the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of variouschanges and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for conveying water under pressure to a vat for storingwater, the combination of a U-shape conduit having one end thereofconnected to the vat for the discharge of water thereto, a vacuumbreaker connected to the other end of the U-shape conduit and adaptedfor connection to a source of water under pressure, a funnel spacedbelow the lowermost portion of the U-shape conduit and defining an airgap therewith, said lowermost portion of the U-shape conduit beingprovided with an orifice for the discharge of water across the air gapto the funnel, and conduit means connecting the funnel to a lower regionof the vat, said funnel being elevated with respect to the level ofwater stored within the vat.

2. In apparatus for conveying water under pressure to a vat, thecombination of a vacuum breaker having a casing provided with an inletopening for receiving water under pressure, an outlet opening for thewater and a vent providing communication between the interior of thecasing and the ambient atmosphere, valve means responsive to thepressure of the water in said casing for controlling the vent, saidvalve means closing the vent when the pressure within said casing isabove a predetermined value and opening the vent when the pressurewithin the casing is below said value, a U-shape conduit connecting saidoutlet opening of the casing and the vat. said U-shape conduit having arestricted orifice formed in a lower portion thereof, a funnel spacedbelow the U-shape conduit for receiving water discharged by the orificeand means for draining water from the funnel to the vat, said funnelbeing elevated with respect to the normal level of water in the vat.

3. In apparatus for conveying water under pressure to an open top vat,the combination of a vacuum breaker adapted for connection to a sourceof water under pressure, a U-shape conduit connected to the vacuumbreaker and the vat for the delivery of water to the latter, saidconduit depending from the vacuum breaker and having an orifice formedin the lower portion thereof, a funnel spaced below said lower portionof said conduit for receiving water discharged from the orifice andmeans for discharging water from the funnel to the vat, said funnelbeing elevated with respect to the level of water stored in the vat.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein said vacuum breaker isdisposed, at least in part, below the top of the vat.

5. In apparatus for conveying water under pressure to a sink structurehaving a work platform and a vat depending therebelow, the combinationof a vacuum breaker adapted for connection to a source of water underpressure, said vacuum breaker being disposed below said work platform, aU-shape conduit connecting the vacuum breaker and the vat and dependingfrom the vacuum breaker, said conduit having an orifice in a lowerportion thereof, a funnel spaced below the conduit for receiving waterdischarged by said orifice and means for draining water from the funnelto a lower portion of the vat, said funnel being elevated with respectto the level of water stored in the vat.

JAMES GALE IDLE.

No references cited.

